First responders investigate the car that was involved in a fatality accident Sunday night north of Topeka. One teen was killed and another was hospitalized with injuries not believed to be life threatening.

The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the teen who was killed Sunday night in a car wreck north of Topeka as Alayna L. Hutchison, a 15-year-old Seaman High School student.

Hutchison was the driver of the vehicle that wrecked, the sheriff’s office said. She was found dead at the scene of the crash on N.W. Rochester Road.

Her passenger, Jalen B. Heald, 16, also a Seaman High student, was taken to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center with serious injuries. He was later transferred to another hospital for treatment, Stormont-Vail staff said Monday afternoon.

Hutchison, a sophomore, was listed as a member of the junior varsity cheer squad on the Seaman High website. She also was a staff writer for the Seaman Clipper — the Seaman High School newspaper — and SeamanNews.com.

Her Facebook page shows Hutchison in photographs smiling with friends and other Seaman cheerleaders. Her page also shows she would have turned 16 in March.

Heald is a high school junior and has competed in the City Junior Golf Championship, according to Topeka Capital-Journal archives.

Friends and cheerleaders took to Twitter to ask everyone attending Tuesday’s Seaman basketball games to wear pink in honor of Hutchison. Others tweeted photographs of Hutchison and sent “prayers to the Seaman community.” People tweeted using the hash tag “SeamanStrong.”

Sheriff’s Lt. Jay Simecka said Sunday night that excessive speed may have contributed to the crash.

Simecka said Hutchison’s vehicle was traveling south around a bend in the road on N.W. Rochester, just north of Seaman High. Hutchison lost control of the vehicle, which rolled down a steep embankment before hitting a tree in the front yard of a residence at 5246 N.W. Rochester. The car then caught on fire.

The incident was reported about 8:06 p.m. Sunday by the homeowner.

Hutchison was found dead inside the car by first responders, while Heald was outside the car. Simecka couldn’t say Sunday whether Heald had been ejected. He was taken to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center by an American Medical Response ambulance.

When authorities arrived at the crash site, the four-door car was engulfed in flames. Crews with the Soldier Township Fire Department responded and put out the fire.

It wasn’t immediately known whether the teens were wearing seat belts.

The Seaman school district released a statement Monday afternoon in response to the crash.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event,” it said. “Our hearts go out to the families of these kids.”

Seaman High School staff members were informed in a meeting before the start of school Monday that counselors would be available to students throughout the day, said district spokesman Jeff Zehnder.

Late Monday, Zehnder also said students and staff members “are planning to do something” special during the boys and girls basketball games on Tuesday night.

Students on Monday afternoon were making posters to use during the event, Zehnder said.

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I feel so sad about this young girl taken so tragically!
I am wondering though why a 15 yr old who has a restricted license was driving at that time with a passenger in her car?? I thought restricted drivers could only drive to and from work and school, and only with a passenger who is a sibling or parent?

You're correct, she shouldn't have been driving by herself, let alone with a passenger. There could have been a sports function, but she would have had to be there much earlier if she was a cheerleader. Very unfortunate, my daughter goes to Seaman and most likely knows them both.

Present acceptable proof of identity
Age: Minimum 14 years old
Testing required: Vision. Written - or certificate of completion from driver education.
Parental approval required: Yes for 14 and 15 year olds
Driver education required: No
Driving restrictions: Licensed adult in front seat at all times - minimum age 21
Wireless restriction: No use of wireless communication devices except to report illegal activity or to summons medical or emergency help
Passenger restriction: No
Time required to be held: 1 year to advance to restricted license

But then there is a restricted license:
RESTRICTED DRIVER’S LICENSE - AGE 15

Present acceptable proof of identity
Age: Minimum 15 years old but less than 16
Testing required: Vision
Parental approval required: Yes
Driver education required: Yes
Instruction permit required: Yes - must have held at least 1 year
50 hour affidavit required: No - at 15 must have at least 25 hours; must provide 50 prior to 16 to move to lesser restrictions
Driving restrictions: To or from work; To or from school; Anytime/anywhere with licensed adult
Wireless restriction: No use of wireless communication devices except to report illegal activity or to summons medical or emergency help
Passenger restriction: May not transport any non-sibling minor passengers
Time required to be held: At 16 will move to less restricted privileges if 50 hour affidavit has been turned in, and maintains a satisfactory driving record

No legally she was not able to drive but this is tragic whether she was 15 or 16. Unfortunately, our kids think they are invincible. The truth is that nothing can change what happened and no it is not going to help to change the laws, etc. The driving laws for teenagers are so complicated now that I got three different answers when I called to see what the requirements were for my teen to drive. You never know what is going to happend so make sure all of your loved ones know that you care each and every day. This is tragic and my thoughts and prayers go out to both families and all of the people that are being affected by this tragedy.

Yes, she is dead and it is a sad tragic lose. But ignoring the facts will not bring her back. I am sure that the police will be looking into the same things discussed here.

It is helpful to bring these things out for the others her age. The youth (and even people my age) fail to see their own mortality or the potential consequences of their actions. Speeding while on a restricted license at night with a passenger she should not have had that resulted in her death might be enough to convince one person if not more to act in a better way.

Not only would I like to send my sincerest condolences to Alayna's family for their loss and to Jalen's family for the injuries he sustained, but to the Seaman community as well. I understand it is a very close community and losing one of their own I'm sure is so difficult. In addition, to the Firefighters, first responders, AMR crew and law enforcement who worked this accident.... my thoughts and prayers are with all of you as well. This was a terrible tragedy and my heart hurts for each and every one of you. May you Rest in Peace, sweet girl.

As a parents of young drivers, we ask our kids to make good choices. Once they leave the driveway and hit the roads we count on them to follow the traffic laws. We are not present to tell them to slow down or say don't follow to close. Wrecks happen, sometimes they involve poor decisions or it's sometimes it's just an accident. Either way two families, numerous friends, and many students are left behind broken hearted by this tragedy. Please lift them in prayer and ask God to heal and comfort them all. Also, pray for the fist responders, fire fighters, and law enforcement officers who come upon & work these horrific scenes and then have to deliver the nightmare of all nightmares to the parents who are anxiously waiting, wondering where their kids are....

You could have just posted the link. Posting the information in it's entirety was insensitive and rude. By posting what you did it feels like you are pointing fingers which isn't necessary. Imagine if it were one of your family members and you saw that someone had posted that. Have some compassion!

What difference does it make if she should have been driving or not? The difference between two healthy living teens, and one being dead, and the other being in the ICU, actually. If the law had been followed, they would both be at school today and we wouldn't be having this conversation. It's not insensitive, it's informative, because there are tons of people asking the question. This situation could also keep other kids/teens from the same tragedy . . think about it from different angles before you go pointing fingers, I don't think ANYONE is out to be critical or cruel. It's especially tragic because it could have been prevented, and I think that's what everyone is pointing out.

I am truly sorrow for this family's loss. It is heart breaking. But 15 is just way too young to be driving - Regardless of what the legal age is, it takes time and practice with a parent or other ADULT (not another teenager).

Let's all do all we can to make an accident like this less likely to happen. There is no way young people this age can have much experience at driving. Let's make sure the laws are followed. Won't bring Alayna Hutchison back, but might make it less likely another young woman or man will join her soon.

Admiral got a bug somewhere? This is good information to know and also good to know where to find the information. In addition, if the laws are followed, other may not be killed or hurt as in this case.

Our prayers and condolences should be with all involved. Yet too often we've become a society that wants to protect feelings at the expense of reality. Many parents have become afraid of telling their children no. But at what cost? We get angry at legislation, but again our failure to police self, forces outside control. We have MADD, every year mock accidents are part of education. Not meant to mock, but tragedy can have good outcomes. If one out of ten, realizes that they are not invincible and that laws are there for our benefit, then a seemingly meaningless tragedy becomes a victory. We all have a tendency toward "foolish" independence and we all stumble at times. But we are increasingly not teaching thoughtfulness and consideration of others. Again, not meant to mock, but in EMS we are taught the "Golden Hour". We take family feelings into consideration. Time doesn't always allow us to let those override the job at hand. If a student is reading these blogs, please learn. It would probably be the greatest memorial of all.

You just aren't understanding where people are coming from. Why on earth would you think that everyone is trying to get on here and be critical and disrespectful? Why do they show videos of destroyed cars and multiple brutal accident pictures at driver's ed? To criticize and run down the drivers that died in those? No, to prevent it from happening to someone else. Now because this happened, people are learning or trying to get information out. Don't you think the best way to honor Alayna would be to use her situation to help prevent the same thing from happening to others? Don't you think she would want that? If she had lived through the crash, don't you think she'd be doing the EXACT same thing? What about Jalen? You don't think he'll be speaking about all this sometime soon? What's disgusting is you trying to inject drama and controversy into this situation. It's not about you or your opinion, it's about these two kids and trying to prevent the same thing from happening to others.